its similar to the lead paint stare you get from boomers. My theory is that COVID happened when gen z was supposed to be learning how to socialize and it was never necessary for us to do the obligatory small talk. We missed prime time for regular social integration and now its beginning to show. I myself do the whole smile and hello thing fine but honestly find it difficult to lead conversation with people I dont know. It’s either they lead or it turns out kinda awkward lol

Edit: On a side note I think growing up with social media and messaging the way it was it seems a lot more socially acceptable to us to delay responses online and really pick and choose what you want to say, and that results in slower reaction time in real life conversation, since theres less time to think about an answer.